Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The aim of this study was to pursue an investigation into educators’ perceptions of discipline in rural high schools. From the literature review it became clear that educators are of the view that most schools in the country lack effective discipline which has a negative effect on teaching and learning. Discipline in school is a prerequisite for order and harmony in schools and classrooms and successful teaching and learning. Discipline problems differ between schools, grades and classrooms. Schools in rural areas are characterized by a number of factors that negatively influence the delivery of quality education. Factors such as poverty, poor infrastructure and lack of teaching resources make it very difficult to create a stimulating teaching and learning environment. One of the consequences of such a deprived educational environment is lack of discipline. The purpose of effective discipline in schools is to create an atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning. Discipline in schools maintains order and learners discover the value and necessity of obeying realistic rules and accept responsibility for their behaviour. Discipline problems in school are caused by the disruptive behaviour of learners that affects the fundamental rights of other learners and educators to feel safe. The aim of discipline rules or a code of conduct for learners in schools is to establish an orderly and productive school environment committed to quality education. For the purpose of the empirical investigation a self-structured questionnaire, to be completed by educators, was utilized. The completed questionnaires were analysed using descriptive statistics. In conclusion a summary was presented on the findings from the literature and empirical study and the following recommendations were made: • Good behaviour must be inculcated in learners by means of positive and constructive discipline in schools. • A code of conduct for learners must be enforced to regulate learners’ behaviour.

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF EDUCATION in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education of the Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, 2009. / The aim of this study was to pursue an investigation into the effect of discipline on academic achievement in secondary schools. From the literature study it became clear that classroom management is a necessary condition for effective student learning. The school climate established by the educator can have a major impact on learners’ motivation and attitude towards learning. As such, the skills involved in establishing a positive classroom climate are of immense importance. Clearly, learners need order in the classroom if the activities, which take place, are to facilitate effective learning. The most important point to bear in mind in considering discipline, is that creating the necessary order is more to do with the skills involved in effective teaching in general than it is to with how one deals with learner behaviour itself. If the learning activities are well-planned and prepared, if the presentation elicits and maintains learners’ attention, interest and involvement, and if the activities are challenging and offer realistic opportunities for success, then the necessary order will be established as part of these qualities. In essence, skilful teaching lies at the heart of establishing discipline. Most learner misbehaviour is quite trivial. The types of learner behaviour most frequently cited by educators are:  excessive talk or talking out of turn,  being noisy (both verbal, such as shouting at another learner across the room, and non-verbal, such as letting a disk lid slam shut),  not paying attention to the educator,  not getting on with the work required,  being out of their seats without good cause,  hindering other learners, and  arriving late for lessons. To a large extent, such problems can be minimized by skilful teaching in general, and by developing conventions and routines for behaviour, which are followed. The discipline which prevails in a classroom will not only be influenced by the educators’ behaviour and expectations, but also by the expectations learners bring with them, and, importantly, by the prevailing ethos in the school. Nevertheless, a well-managed lesson coupled with a relationship based on mutual respect and rapport will do much to minimize pupil misbehaviour. In schools where it is recognized that there are a number of learners with marked emotional or academic difficulties, skilful teaching can ensure that good discipline in lessons will be the norm. Learners misbehave at school for a variety of reasons, e.g. boredom, inability to do the work, low academic self-esteem, emotional difficulties, poor attitudes, etc. The key to establishing good discipline at school lies in learners accepting the educator’s authority to manage their behaviour and their progress in learning. Learning activities cannot take place effectively in a classroom of thirty learners or more, unless one is given authority to control, manage and direct what is going on as, when and how appropriate. Much of the authority as an educator derives from the status he has in that role, and the respect and esteem for educators generally held in society; this is particularly conveyed to learners by their parents and other sources of influence. Educators will have some degree of status because of this, most notably with younger learners where they may be perceived as a parent figure to some extent. In order to exercise managerial control, learners’ behaviour needs to be rule-governed. Such school rules may be explicitly stated by educators or simply inferred from the educator’s actions. In conclusion a summary was presented on the findings of the literature and empirical study, and the following are some of the recommendations that were made:  All schools should draw up a code of conduct and implement it.  Rules related content should be incorporated in the academic curriculum.  Further research should be conducted concerning disruptive behaviour in the classroom in order to provide an overview of the problem.